Gresbeck, Heinrich (16th century)

Heinrich Gresbeck, a citizen of Münster (Westphalia), a cabinetmaker by trade, had lived outside the city 1530-1534, partly as a mercenary, but then returned to the city on 27 February, and was baptized on that day. For 15 months he shared the joys and sorrows of the Münster group. He played a subordinate role. During the night of 23 May 1535 he abandoned his post as guard at the Kreuztor and fled. He was seized. Out of pity for his youth his life was spared. In prison he sketched a plan of the fortifications of the city and showed the spot where he had been guard and where the wall could be easily scaled to enter the city. The place he designated was secretly examined, and his assertions were found to be correct. On this basis the attack was planned and executed on the night of 24 June. Gresbeck made an essential contribution to the success of this attack. Of particular importance for the history of the Münster revolt is his Bericht von der Wiedertaufe in Münster. This manuscript C. A. Cornelius published verbatim in his book, Die Geschichtsquellen des Bistums Münster II (Münster, 1853) 1-214.